1. Elements of a Tragedy English II-H

2. O “A man cannot become a hero until he sees the root of his own downfall.” - Aristotle O “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” - Harvey Dent O “Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing.” - Optimus Prime

3. Shakespeare’s Genres Comedy O Light / whimsical tone O Uses puns / banter / practical jokes / comedic insults O Ends with a wedding / happy ending TragedyHistory O Serious / dark tone O Tragic hero with tragic flaw & fate O Ends with death (lots & lots of death)  O Factual tone O Follows actual events with slight modifications O Based on lives of actual English kings

4. What is a Tragedy? Turn & Talk: In your own words, define the word “tragedy.” D EFINITION : Tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in the viewing. Themes in a tragedy are usually lofty: passion, jealousy, revenge, ambition, etc.

5. Tragedy Origins O The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about 330 BCE. O Six Parts of Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy: O Plot (most important element according to Aristotle) O Character O Thought / Theme (insights into humanity) O Diction (word choice - dialogue) O Spectacle (scenery and visual elements) O Melody (all sound)

6. Shakespeare’s Tragedy Definition O Tragic Hero O The Tragic Flaw – Hamartia O Reversal of Fortune - Peripeteia O Catharsis O Restoration of Social Order – Denouement Free will is important in Shakespearean tragedy. O Characters have the ability to choose their path but make errors in choices due to their flawed nature.

7. Tragic Hero O A tragic hero meets his/her downfall through a combination of hubris, tragic flaw, fate, and the will of the gods. O A tragic hero should be of noble birth – a ranking politician, military figure, prince, or king. O Noble birth produces a sense of fear (If it can happen to someone like him/her, it can happen to me.) O The hero should not be morally better than an average person. O Hero’s actions result in an increase of self-awareness and self-knowledge. O Audience must feel pity and fear for the hero.

8. Why is the hero called a tragic hero? The hero must die.

9. The Tragic Flaw (Hamartia) O Hamartia (Greek) – fatal flaw O The hero is nearly perfect except for one flaw or weakness. O The most common flaw in Shakespeare’s tragedy is pride or hubris. O Hubris is exaggerated self-pride or self-confidence often resulting in fatal retribution or ultimate downfall. O In ancient Athens, hubris was a crime punished like our modern day assault and battery. O Tragic flaw prevents the hero from understanding his/her part in the situation. O Tragic flaw also leads to a reversal of fortunes.

10. Reversal of Fortune (Peripeteia) O Peripeteia (Greek) – reversal of circumstances or turning point O The “fatal flaw” or “tragic flaw” brings the hero down from his or her elevated state or status. O Fortune usually changes from good to bad. O Peripeteia includes changes in a character but more commonly refers to external changes. O Renaissance audiences were familiar with the “wheel of fortune” or “fickle fate. “What goes up, must come down.”

11. Catharsis O Catharsis originates from Aristotle’s katharsis. O Catharsis is the audience’s purging of emotions through pity and fear. O When experiences are described as “cathartic,” it means they are good for you. It helps you get a lot of emotions / feelings “off your chest.” O The spectator, or viewer, is purged of emotion as a result of watching the hero fall. This is why we cry during movies or novels!

12. Restoration of Social Order (Denouement) O Tragedies include a private and public element. O Personal and societal problem that must be resolved. O The play cannot end until society is, once again, restored and at peace. O Shakespearean tragedies usually conclude with widespread death.